Unusual inclusions in Ethiopian opal

[PinkDiamond]

It's hard to say, Mila, but it occurred to me that you might find this thread that was posted on the forum at our original home, opalauctions.com, and copied so we would have it here. There are all sorts of inclusions, and lots of discussion and information that I think you might find interesting in it, and the answer to the question as to what the inclusions in the first photos are is revealed in the last post.

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=510

[SwordfishMining]

I was hoping it would turn out rarer than it did, but oh well. I have yet to see good 6 ray sulfide twinning from Africa like I have seen it from Rainbow Ridge creating snowflake or maple leaf looking plays of multi-color.

[OpalSpectrum]

I'll stand corrected on not seeing round mineral things before.

This Ethiopian opal contained an interesting inclusion scene consisting of a string of octahedral pyrite crystals and aragonite spheres.
An old blurb from GIA.

Thanks!
I did see the picture you've posted.
Here's a microscopic image of the second opal. Is this dendrite?

dendrites are not 'organic' inclusions so they are not real fossils
they are crystals of manganese which grow the same way like snowflake (and other stuff in nature)
in most cases they form 2D trees but in dendritic agate they are 3D and might look a bit similar to the photo you posted

here is Welo from my collection with unusual inclusions >


*btw. this is stable hydrophane Welo which is different to the 'new' non-hydrophane material

hope this helps

[PinkDiamond]

It's beautiful, OS, and nice polish!

[SwordfishMining]

Thats a word for it. Opal CA grows in spheres too. I'm not sure what they are without a micro photograph either.

[Rockranger]

Sweet!

[OpalSpectrum]

thanks RR

btw. few weeks ago I was on a walk in a nearby forest and there was amazing hoarfrost on the ground with dendritic ice crystals
sadly I didn't have my camera because this was great for some surreal macro shots
I made only couple pix with my phone and short video

[PinkDiamond]

What a fantastic find, and the crystals are so perfect and beautifully formed. You were lucky to see them, and I'm sure we're all glad you had your phone with you so you could capture them 'on film', so to speak. Thanks so much for sharing them with us OS!

[Rockranger]

Hoart frost. Tell tale sign winter is close.

[SwordfishMining]

I was just showing off that twig I like and noticed the plumes in the safe deposit room lights showed the plumes like hoar frost without being drown out by the less dynamic colors from everywhere. I still have not made any new videos for everyone. LOL. Would have found it if I was packing for Tuscon this year. Im a gonna stay out where my crappy vehicle can't break down and strand me this year, again. We'll see how the year goes. Its not like I have to resupply with anything as I sell what is mined thru the year.